Common beach activity at holiday hotspot could see tourists fined over £2,500 – or risk getting stopped at the airport
LIFE'S A BEACH Common beach activity at holiday hotspot could see tourists fined over £2,500 – or risk getting stopped at the airport
UK HOLIDAYMAKERS could face a hefty fine if they carry out this one common beach activity.
Brits travelling to Sardinia, Italy this summer will be looking forward to the island's sprawling white beaches and scorching temperatures.
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Collecting shells in Sardinia was made illegal in 2017
Credit: Getty
But whilst the area is known for its beautiful coastline and clear waters, tourists have been urged not to take advantage of the Italian landscape.
While collecting shells might appear like a harmless beach activity, in Sardinia, it could cost you over £2,500.
Local law prohibits taking shells or pebbles from any beach on the island in a bid to protect the area's ecosystem and prevent the beaches from eroding.
Studies suggest removing shells from a seashore could impact an area's ecosystem as many animals live inside the husks.
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In 2017, Sardinia made it illegal to take sand from its beaches after thousands of tourists were caught trying to transport boxes of the stuff back home.
Just a few years later customs police on the Mediterranean island slapped 41 travellers with penalties of up to €3,000 (£2,580) in just a few days alone.
Collectively they attempted to swipe 220lb (100kg) of beach items in separate incidents.
Locals grew fed up with tourists trying to take a piece of the beach home with them - and then attempting to flog it for a profit.
There is even a dedicated Facebook page - called "Sardinia robbed and plundered" - to highlight the problem, which has amassed 37,722 followers.
Visitors have been caught at airport and harbour customs checks, while police and the military have also been monitoring websites for unlawful sales.
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Cops reported dozens of illicitly advertised beach items - some with "high prices".
Islanders warned the issue is creating an environmental emergency.
Pierluigi Cocco, an environmental scientist and resident of the Sardinian capital Cagliari, told the BBC that the beaches were "the main reason why tourists are attracted to the island of Sardinia".
He said that although taking sand home served as a reminder of a "treasured memory", it could contribute to the reduction of beaches in the future.
In 2019, a French couple were caught with 40kg of sand in the boot of their car.
Police found the sand crammed into 14 plastic bottles taken from a beach in Chia, southern Sardinia.
The couple claimed they wanted to take it home as a "souvenir" and did not know they had committed an offence.
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